About Niamh
Niamh Wimperis is one of the most colourful and dynamic embroidery artists currently practicing.
According to Niamh, she’s “all about feminism and plants”, and finds a lot of her inspiration from her vast collection of house plants, and childhood memories of her grandparents house, Selsley Herb and Goat Farm. Her work has evolved from ultra political – – with her feminist pieces featured in Ms Magazine, Buzzfeed and The Huff Post – – to this more calming botanical style.
Niamh achieved a Masters Degree in Contemporary Craft in 2017 from Plymouth College of Art. Her final piece, an interactive installation titled ‘A Feeling Of Safety, Perhaps’ was exhibited in the MA show and as part of Dwell, a two woman collaboration for Plymouth Art Weekend at Plymouth Art Centre.
In 2018 Niamh was chosen to be on the BBC2 programme, The Victorian House of Arts and Crafts. This was a “living history” reality show in which Niamh and 5 other talented crafts people lived in a William Morris-esque arts and crafts commune for a month, complete with wearing Victorian clothes, eating Victorian food and using Victorian tools. The 4 part BBC2 show aired in January 2019. You can read more about her experience here, and watch the series here.
Niamh now lives in Camden Town with her partner Alex, a watch maker. She is currently writing her first book, continues to make work (including commissions), and has launched her #WEStitchKit – a monthly embroidery kit subscription box. You can find about more about her kit subscription here.
Signature Technique
Botanical Embroidery
Top Tips
- Use the Satin Stitch for a shimmer and shine effect.
- Stitch on two layers to avoid warp and seeing stitches on the back.
- Keep your fabric tight as a drum in your hoop or your piece will pucker.
- Nothing in nature is perfect, so don’t be afraid if a stitch appears strange or off the centre line. That’s how it appears in real life.
- The Fly Stitch is wonderfully versatile; use it for pine branches, flowers and leaves.
- If you find your thread is suddenly shorter, you probably have a knot. Use your needle to pull the knot apart.
Videos
Books and Patterns
Posts
Our filming day at Festival of Quilts 2011
Val: Dave, Matt and I had a wonderful day on last Sunday (14th) filming at the Festival and here are just some of the items we got on film: The Lace Collection from the Prague Patchwork Meeting who represent the most prestigious platform for quilters from all over the Czech Republic. This was the first time that the complete collection had been on show outside the Czech Republic.
New book by Jennie Rayment
Val: Foldy Rolly Patchwork Pzzazz - as always a good read; twelve great projects and easy-to-follow pics at each stage with lots of colour (both in the projects and in the book!) and you can take advantage of a special introductory price together with free p&p within the UK as we have featured it as this month’s Book of the Month https://www.justhands-on.tv/shopping/category/12/
Roses from the Heart Bonnets
Val: Christina Henri who runs this programme won't be at Festival of Quilts this year but there will be a collection box for her bonnets near the Registration Point so you can drop them off there. If you don't know what I'm talking about you can watch the video of last year's Festival and meet Christina and learn more about her memorial to the lost women who were transported to Tasmania and Australia.